Unease among deputy governors in Nyanza, Kenya

Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga's call for affirmative action in county leadership in Nyanza has thrown deputy governors into a panic.

Unease is growing among the deputy governors of Migori, Siaya and Homa Bay as governors resolved to replace them with women in the regional party's agenda to uplift women in leadership.

Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) leader Raila Odinga 

After deliberations with Nyanza leadership following the Luo Cultural Festival, which ended in Kisumu on Sunday, governors Cornel Rasanga (Siaya), Cyprian Awiti (Homa Bay), Jack Ranguma (Kisumu) and Okoth Obado (Migori) hinted at replacing their deputies in a bid to fulfill the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party's manifesto of empowering women.

A statement made by Mr Rasanga during the close of the event at Kenyatta Sports Ground indicated that the governors were willing to champion the party's agenda as proposed by Raila to ensure that women are given active leadership roles.

"We are the foundation of devolution and will be looking into the second term come 2017, and as the party leader has indicated, we will require that women run as deputies. As the party's foot soldiers, we are ready to champion the party's manifesto in line with the commander's (Raila) directive," Rasanga said.

Addressing the gathering, Raila had said the party had plans to make women key players at every level to spearhead campaigns for his presidential bid in 2017.

Speaking in Kisumu where he met women leaders from Nyanza, Raila said there was need to ensure that women got the political space they deserved at all levels.

Raila is a close friend of Tanzanian President John Pombe Maghufuli, whose running mate was a woman, the current Vice President Samia Suluhu.